Valve



May 1, 1928,.

S. J. NORDSTROM v'ALvE Filed April 14. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY May 1 1928'.

S. J. NORDSTROM VALVE Filed April. 14. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 'ATTORN EY Patented May 1, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

svnu Jonah" nomas'rnoiu,

TION OF DELAWARE.

VALVE.

The invention relatesto an improvement in valves and more particularly to an improvement in pressure lubricated valves especially adapted for gas curb cock service.

A gas curb cock is usually a plug valve located under the sidewalk or street in the pipe line leading from the main into the house or other building in which the gas is used. These valves are usually at such a depth below the surface that they must be operated by an extension wrench or handle. They commonly remain open for long periods of time, and since they are more or less exposed to the elements, and are often covered with water and earth, great difliculty is sometimes experienced in closing them in cases of necessity. Great damage has occurred in burning buildings from escaping gas because the curb cock in the sidewalk or street could not be closed Since every gas consuming house or building is provided with one or more gas curb cocks, and hence great numbers of these valves are produced, the requirement is that they be of simple construction so that they may be manufactured as cheaply as possible.

One object of the present invention is to produce a pressure lubricated plug valve which can be constructed so cheaply that it will be suitable for gas curb cock service. Since the valve is of the type in which lubricant under pressure is used for lifting the plug from its seat so that the bearing or seating surfaces of the valve may be effectively lubricated, the valve will at all times be in condition for ready operation, either from open to closed position or from .closed to open position.

Another object of the invention is to so construct and arrange the parts of the valve Y t that the operation of the valve will not be afli'ected by a covering of water or earth.

Still another object of the invention is to arrange the lubricating system of the valve in such a way that when the plug is turned to open position the bearin or seating sur: faces are-simultaneously lu ricated. A feature of the invention in this connection is the provision .of means which has the effect of forcing or pulling the plug against its seat when his turned from open to closed position and of forcing the plug from its seat when it is turned from closed to open 01' SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO KEBCO NORDSTROM VALVE COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,

A CORPORA- position. These objects and other objects of the invention, which will appear as the de scription proceeds, are accomplished in the improved valve hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 1s a longitudinal section through the improved valve; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the valve parts shown in Fig. 1, with the middle portion in section taken on the line 2 -2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sideelevation ot the plug operating and lubricating head shown detached from the valve; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the modified form of plug lubricating and operating head; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section, similar to Fig. 1, of a modified form of valve; Fig 7 is a top plan and sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, of the form of valve shown 1n Fi 6; Fig. 8 is an elevational detail of the p ug operating and lubricating head of the valve shown in Fig. 6; and Fi 9 is a top plan of the parts shown in ig. 8. The improved valve, as illustratedin Fig. 1, comprises a body portion or casing 10, provided with a longitudinal passageway 11 therethrough and a tapered valve seat 12 formed transversely. of the passageway 11. Seated in the valve seat 12 is a tapered plug 13 provided with a hole 14 adapted to register with the passageway 11 when the valve is open. The plug as shown in Fig. 1 is in closed position sealing the passageway 11 through the casing. The side of the casing at which the larger end of the tapered valve seat 12 is formed is provided with an annular internally threaded flange 15 and the opening therethrough is closed by a cap or cover 16, the joint between the two parts being flat U-shaped spring 19 is interposed be tween the larger end of the plug and the cap so as to resiliently hold the plug against its seat. The spring 19 is received in a slot 20 cut longitudinally in the flange portion 15 of the casing and when the spring is irv operative position the. two ends 21 thereof bear against the inside of the circular flange part 22 of the cap 16 and the mid- .1 HEISSUED Application filed April 14, 1926. Seri .made tight by means of'a gasket 17. A

dle portion 23 of the spring bears against a boss 24 pro'ecting from the center of the larger end 0 the .plug 13. -In order that the plug may have only a 90 turn the larger end of the plug is provided with two projections 25 arranged on opposite sides of the spring 19 which serves as a stop for the projections 25- to prevent further turning of the plug when it has been turned in one direction to open position and in the opposite direction to closed position..

The smaller end of the tapered plug 13 is truncated and is provided with a transverse recess 27 having flattened sides 28. The plug is turned by meansof the teat or proection 29 which in cross-section has the same shape as the recess 27 and fits loosely "or channels and 36 are formed in the seating surface of the plug the extremity of the smal e and the space 34 is outer end of the head elongated at 42 to accommodate the wrenchr end of the p ug to almost the extremity of the plug. The annular recess 32 constitutes a lubricant chamber and when lubricant in this chamber, in the lubricating grooves and in the space 34 is put under pressure, the plug is separated slightly from its seat 12 a ainst'the action of the spring 19 so that ubricant will escape laterally from the grooves or channels 35 and 36, and when the lug is turned this lubricant will besmeare over the seating or bearing surfaces between the plu andits seat and thereby effectively lubr cate them. The lubricant enters the space 34 and the chamber 32 from the reservoir 30. The outlet 39 between the reservoir 38 provided with a ball check valve 40. The contracted inlet of the reservoir 38 is closed by the plug 41. .The 30 is flattened and or, handle by which the head 30 is turned to rotate the plug to open and closed positions.

In operating a plug. valve the universal practice is to turn the plug in a counterclockwise direction to open the valve and in a clockwise By making the pitch of the cooperatin threads on the head 30 and the flange 31 le hand, so that the head 30 will travel inward toward the plug 13 when the head is turned and extend f m of the larger end.

38 formed in the head direction ."to close the valve.-

to open the valve two objects are accomplished: (1) The iubricant in the space 34, in the-chamber 32 and in the lubricating grooves is put under pressure to lift the plug from its seat and s ueeze the lubricant out of the grooves so tlat as the plug is sllding engagement between the flattened sides of the projection 29 and the flattened sides 28 of the recess 27 acts to pull the plug againstits seat. This action combined with the 'action of the spring 19 assures a ti ht joint between the plug and its seat wlien'the valve is closed. a

In assembling the valve for operation the plug operating and lubricating head is first screwed into the threaded flange 31, and

when it-has been turned down into the de sired position the flattened sides of the projection 29 are so located as to hold the plug in its closedposition when the latter is inserted into the valve seat. The distance inward into the valve casing to which the head 30 is turned in assemblin the valve will be such that asuflicient lu ricant containing space 34 will be left between the bottom of the projection 29 and the bottom of the recess 27, as shown in Fig. 1. The U-shaped spring 19 is then put in place and the cover 16 is screwed down into the threaded flange 15 with the gasket 17 interposed between the flange 22 and the casing; The, hollow head 30 is next filled with lubricant. When the valve is first assembled it is desirable that a pressure lubricant gun be applied to the threaded inlet of the head 30 and all the lubricant passages in the valve, including the chamber 32 and the. lubricating grooves 3}? and 36, be filled ,with lubricant. YVhcn t e use to close the inlet.

The valve is now in the condition shown Fig. 1 and is ready for operation; The workman places a wrench or handle on the flattened part 42 of the head 30 and turns it in a counter-clockwise direction to move the plug 13 to open position with the hole 14 in registr with the passageway 11. Inasmuch as a] the lubricant containing spaces in the valve were filled'at the time the valve was assembled, the axial travel of the inner end 29 of the head 30 relatively to the plu 13 causes th. lubricant in the space 34, in the chamber 32 and in the grooves 35 and 36 to be put under pressure suflicient to separate the plug 13 slightl from the valve seat, thereby permitting tlie lubricant in the ressure gun is removed, the plug 41 is ggooves and 36 to ooze out laterally and smeared over the bearin" or seating surfaces between the plug and its seat as the plug is rotated.- When the lubrica'ntin the space 34 is put under pressure at the beginmug of the turning movement'of the head 30, the ball is forced into its seat, thereby closing the outlet 39 of the head 30 and sea ing this way of egress from the s ace 34. The cooperating threads on'the hea 30 and the circular flange 31 are sufficiently tight to prevent egress of lubricant, especially after the lubricant has once entered the slight s acesbetween the threads. In this connection it will be observed that this arrangement is an efiicient means of keeping the threads lubricated and easy working as well as fluid tight. Hence a covering of water or earth will not interfere with the operation'of the valve.

When the head 30 is turned in a clockwise direction to move the plugfll3 to its closed position, the frictional engagement between the sides of the projection29 and the flattened sides 28 of the recess 27 as the head 30 moves outward axially from the plug 13 acts, in conjunction with the spring 19, to draw the plug 13 tightly-against its seat.

As the head 30 moves outwardly relatively to the smaller end of the plug 13, a vacuum is created in the space 34 which results in the unseating of the ball valve 40 and permits the passa e'of lubricant from the reservoir 38 into t e space 34. Thus when the head 30 is again turned in a counter-clockwise direction, the s ace 34 being filled with lubricant, the trave of the end of the projection 29 toward the bottom of the recess 27 will put the lubricant under pressure, closin the valve- 40 as before and resulting in a slight separation of the plug from the valve seat.

In Fig. 5 is shown in longitudinal section a modified form of plug operating and lubricatin head designated b the reference numera? 45. This head 45 as the same mode of operation as the head 30 and may be substituted for it. It differs in construction from the head 20 in that it is provided with a plunger or piston 46 and a coiled expansion spring 47 interposed between the plunger 46 and the plug 48 which closes the outer end of the head. The head 45 may be substituted for the head 30 in those cases where a more viscous lubricant is employed. The outlet I to be close by the ball valve 50 when the head 45 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction to move the lug 13 to open position. When the head 45 is turned in the reverse direction the ball 50' dro s onto the holding prongs 51 to permit t 1e lubricant to be forced into the space 34 by means of the spring-pressed plunger 46.

The modified form of valve shown in Fig.

port 49 of the head 45 is adapted.

' 6 is of the sameconstruction, except as to the head 53, as the valve shown in.-Fig. 1,

and consequently the corresponding valve parts unconnected with the heads are designated by the same reference numerals. The head 53 is provided with a left hand thread which travels in a correspondingly pitched thread in the circular flange 54 of the valve casing. The head 53 1s bored axially throughout its len 11 to provide a lubricant reservoir 55 and t e outer end of the head is closed by, the pressure screw 56. The inner end or projection 58 of the head 53 has the same shape as the projection 29 of the head 30 and extends into a recess 59 which corresponds to the recess 27. A space 60 separates the inner end of the projection 58 from the bottom of the recess 59. When the head 53 isturned in a counter-clockwise direction to rotate the lug to open position, the inward travel of t e projection 58 into the recess 59 compresses the lubricant therein, in the chamber32 and in the lubricating grooves 35 and 36, with the result that the plug is separated slightly from itsseat to permit the lubricant to be smeared over the seating surfaces as the plu rotates. When the head 53 is turned in tie reverse direction and the projection 58 moves outwardly from the bottom of the recess 59, a space is left. This space is filled with lubricant by turning down on the fore the plug is again turned to open position. In allother respects the plug-operating and lubricatin head 53 performs the same functions an has the same mode of operation as the heads 30 and 45.

Having thusdescribed the invention, what I claim as new is 1- 1. A valve comprising, a casing having. a passageway therethrough and a tapered valve seat formed transversely of the passageway, a tapered plug seated in the valve seat and having a hole adapted to register with the passa eway, resilient means associated with the for holding the plug against its seat, and a hollow lubricant containing head screwed into the casing beyond the smaller end of the plug, the smaller end of the plug and the inner end of the head being provided with cooperating means whereby when the head is turned the plug is rotated in its seat, and a space between the head and the plug for containing lubricant.

2. A valve comprising, a casing having a. passageway therethrough and a tapered valve seat formed transversely of the passageway, a tapered plug seated in the valve seat and having a hole adapted to register with the passageway, the ends of the plug terminating within the casing, a cover for the casing at the larger end of the lug, resilient means between the cover an the larger and of the plug for holding the plug pressure screw 56 be-.

arger end of the plug the plug and extending into the annular against its seat, a circular flange provided with an internal thread'of left hand pitch at the side 'of the casing surroundin the smaller end of the plu a hollow lubrlcant containing head threa ed into the circular flange, the smaller end of the plug being provided with a transverse recess into which the inner end of the head extends, an annular chamber formed in the casing at the smaller end of the plug, and longitudinal lubricating grooves'in the seating surface of chamber.

3. A valve comprislng, a casing having a passageway therethrough and a tapered valve seat formed transversely of the passageway, a tapered plug seated in the valve seat and having a hole adapted to register with the passageway, resilient means associated with the larger end of the plug for holding the plug against its seat, the smaller end of the plug being provided with a transverse recess, a'hollow head threaded into the casing at the smaller end of the plug and having its inner end extending into the recess in the smaller end of the plug, the bottom of the recess and the inner end of the head being separated by a space, means forholding lubricant in the head, a communication between the lubricant containing part of the head and the space between the head and the plug whereby when the head and plug are turned in one direction lubricant passes into the space, and when the head and plug are turned in the reverse direction the axial travel ofthe head relative to the plug compresses the lubricant in the space and thereby acts to lift the plug from its seat.

4. A valve comprising, a casing having a passageway therethrough and a tapered valve seat formedtransversely of the passageway, a tapered plug seated in the valve seat and having a hole adapted to register with the pssageway, resilient means associated with the larger end of the plug for holding the plug against its seat, a transverse recess formed in the smaller end of the plug, a chamber formed in the casing and into which the smaller end of the plug extends, longitudinal lubricating channels in the seating surface of the plug extendin from the chamber and terminating short 0 the larger end of the plug, and a hollow straddling the o n and closed positions of the' seat and having a hole adapted to register with the passageway, a cover for the casing at the larger end of the plug, a sprin between the cover and the arger end 0 the plug for resiliently holding the plug against its seat, the smaller end of the plug terminatin within the casing, a circular flange provit led with a left hand'thread in the si e of the casing at the smaller end of the plug,

a head threaded into the circularflange, the inner end of the head and the smaller end of the plug having cooperating means roviding a loose connection between t em whereby when the head is turned the lug is rotated in its seat, andlubrcatin c an nels in the seatin surface of the fp ug, the head being provi ed with means or introducing lubricant into the space between the inner end of the head and the smaller end of the plu 6. A va ve comprising, a casing having a passageway therethrough and a tapered valve seatformed transversely of the passageway, a tapered plug seated in the valve seat and having a hole adapted to register with the passageway, means for resiliently holding the plug against its seat, and a head having a driving connection with the plug threaded in the casing at the smaller end of the plug and having means for introducing fluid between the head and the plug so that when the head is turned in one direction and travels axially relatively to the lug the compression of the fluid between the ead and the plug causes the plug to be lifted from its seat.

7. A valve comprising, a casing having a passageway therethrough and a valve seat formed transversely of the passa eway, a plug seated in the valve seat and aving a ole adapted to register with the passageway, a spring held in the casing for resiliently ho ding the plug against its seat and projections on the plug arranged to be engaged by the spring to determine the open an closed positions of the plug.

-8. A valve comprising, a casing having a assageway therethrough and a tapered va ve seat formed transvnrselg sageway, a tapered plugseate in the valve of the passeat and having a hole adapted to register I with the passageway, a s rin held ina recess in the casing for resi ientfiy holding the plug against its seat, projections on the plug the spring, said rejections being so locate relatively to the ole in the plug that engagement with the spring determines In and e size of the projections relative y iii the width of the spring permits the plug to turn through an angle of approximately 90. 9. A valve comprising, a casing having a passageway therethrough and a. tapered} valve seat formed transversely of the possageway, a tapered plug seated-inthe valve 1,eee,1ee V 5 seat and having a hole adapted to register the larger end of the plug to hold the plug with the passa way, the surface of the plug in its seat the relation of the position 7 being provide with longitudinal lubricatof the lubricating grooves vand the rejec- 15 ing rooves, two projections extending from tions and the relation of the size of t e pro- 5 the arger end 0 the plug and located on jections and the size of the spring being such opposite sides thereof, an inverted U-shaped that the engagement of the projections with spring locatedin a recess in the side of the the spring permits the plug to be turned casing surrounding the larger end of the lug, through an arc of onlyabout 90 so that the so 'the middle section of the spring being p aced, grooves will not besexposed to the passage- 1" etween the projectionsyand ecover in enway. I v n l I,

gii'gemeet. with the ends of the spring for orcing the middle pert of the spring against SVEN JOHZLN NORDSTROM. 

